A device including a magnetic structure, the magnetic structure having a substrate adjacent surface and a second, opposing surface, the magnetic structure having a near field transducer (NFT), wherein the NFT includes gold or an alloy thereof, and is positioned at the second surface an overcoat structure; and a film structure, the film structure positioned between the magnetic structure and the overcoat structure, the film structure having a total thickness of not greater than about 100 Å, and the film structure including: a first interfacial structure having a first and a second opposing surface; a second interfacial structure having a first and a second opposing surface; and an intermediate structure wherein the first surface of the first interfacial structure is positioned adjacent the NFT of the magnetic structure, and the second surface of the second interfacial structure is positioned adjacent the overcoat structure, and the intermediate structure is positioned between the first interfacial structure and the second interfacial structure, and wherein the first interfacial structure includes one or more rare earth elements, one or more alkaline earth metals, one or more alkali metals, or a combination thereof.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A device comprising: a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a substrate adjacent surface and a second, opposing surface, the NFT comprising a plasmonic material; an overcoat; a lower intermediate layer adjacent the NFT, the lower intermediate layer having a thickness not greater than 75 Å; and an upper intermediate layer adjacent the overcoat, the upper intermediate layer having a thickness not greater than 10 Å, wherein both the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
A device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the NFT comprises gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), or alloys thereof.
The device described above where the near field transducer (NFT) comprises gold, silver, copper, aluminum, or alloys of these metals. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the NFT comprises gold.
The device described above where the near field transducer (NFT) comprises gold. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower intermediate layer comprises an oxide.
The device described above where the lower intermediate layer comprises an oxide. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the lower intermediate layer comprises chromium oxide or tantalum oxide.
The device described above where the lower intermediate layer comprises chromium oxide or tantalum oxide. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT, with the lower intermediate layer comprising an oxide.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper intermediate layer comprises a metal.
The device described above where the upper intermediate layer comprises a metal. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the upper intermediate layer comprises chromium.
The device includes a layer made of chromium, placed between two other layers within the device.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer comprise the same metallic element.
The device described above where the lower and upper intermediate layers comprise the same metallic element. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer comprise a different metallic element.
The device described above where the lower and upper intermediate layers comprise different metallic elements. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
10. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the lower intermediate layer comprises chromium oxide and the upper intermediate layer comprises chromium.
The device described above where the lower intermediate layer is made of chromium oxide and the upper intermediate layer is made of chromium. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT, with the lower intermediate layer comprising an oxide.
11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the overcoat comprises carbon.
The device described above where the overcoat layer is made of carbon. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a magnetic transducer.
The device described above which also includes a magnetic transducer. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material (a material that interacts strongly with light). The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
13. A device comprising: a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a substrate adjacent surface and a second, opposing surface, the NFT comprising a plasmonic material; an overcoat; a lower intermediate layer adjacent the NFT, the lower intermediate layer having a thickness not greater than 10 Å; and an upper intermediate layer adjacent the overcoat, the upper intermediate layer having a thickness not greater than 75 Å, wherein both the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
A device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the lower intermediate layer comprises a metal.
The device described above where the lower intermediate layer comprises a metal. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the lower intermediate layer comprises chromium.
The device described above where the lower intermediate layer comprises chromium. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT, and the lower intermediate layer comprises a metal.
16. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the upper intermediate layer comprises a metal oxide.
The device described above where the upper intermediate layer comprises a metal oxide. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the upper intermediate layer comprises chromium oxide.
The device described above where the upper intermediate layer comprises chromium oxide. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT, with the upper intermediate layer comprising a metal oxide.
18. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer comprise the same metallic element.
The device described above where the lower and upper intermediate layers comprise the same metallic element. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
19. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the lower intermediate layer and the upper intermediate layer comprise a different metallic element.
The device described above where the lower and upper intermediate layers comprise different metallic elements. The device includes a near-field transducer (NFT) made of a plasmonic material. The NFT has two surfaces: one facing a substrate and the other facing away. An overcoat layer is positioned above the NFT. Between the NFT and the overcoat, there are two thin layers: a lower intermediate layer directly adjacent to the NFT with a thickness of 10 Angstroms or less, and an upper intermediate layer directly adjacent to the overcoat with a thickness of 75 Angstroms or less. Both intermediate layers are positioned between the overcoat and the NFT.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 16, 2016
June 13, 2017
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